Shortly after this war began and the atrocities started to become known, my thoughts focused on the passage from 2 Kings 8:11-13.

11 And he stared steadily at him until Hazael was embarrassed, and then the
man of God wept.
12 And Hazael said, “Why is my lord weeping?” And he answered,
“Because I know the evil that you will do to the sons of Israel: you will set
their fortified cities on fire, you will kill their young men with the sword,
their little ones you will smash to pieces, and you will rip up their
pregnant women.”
13 Then Hazael said, “But what is your servant—a lowly dog—that he could
do this great thing?” And Elisha answered, “The Lord has shown me that
you will be king over Aram.”

When I read this long before this war, it was difficult for me to imagine these horrific actions that took place and what the nation went through. Yet, as more reports are made of the atrocities that were committed by Hamas, including the brutal murder of babies and children in the Jewish communities in the south, as well as men, women, elderly, soldiers, and as the numbers of those who were killed and wounded increased, the historical record in 2 Kings took on a different light and began to look all too familiar.

This present evil happened before, and the pain that Elisha felt, is similar to the pain felt today. The tears he shed, are shed by many in Israel today. Yesterday, when I heard some of the horrific reports about so many babies and children brutally murdered and the abuse they went through, it was too much for me to bear and I broke down in tears. I was in mourning for my people, my nation, for those whose only “guilt” was being Jewish. Indeed, as many have already said, this is another Holocaust. Many around the world are praying for Israel, agonizing with her over this great evil. Yet, many also blame Israel for what happened, siding with her enemies and even trying to justify these atrocities. How can this be if not for pure blind hatred towards Israel? Indeed, the eyes of many have been blinded by evil, and sadly, even some who claim to know the Lord Yeshua, are afraid or reluctant to take a stand with Israel. They seem to forget that the Messiah they profess to believe in, is a Jew. They seem to forget it is the Jewish people who need to call Him to return, not the church. They seem to forget that He won’t return to America or Europe, but will return to the land of Israel, to the remnant of Israel at the end of the time of testing and tribulation to gather them, after fighting and destroying Israel’s enemies. The words of the psalmist are truer than ever these days:

For behold, Your enemies make an uproar,
And those who hate You have exalted themselves.
They make shrewd plans against Your people,
And conspire together against Your treasured ones (Psalm 83:2-4)

This war against Israel is a spiritual one as well as a physical one. It is waged by those who hate God and His people. If we fail to see this is a spiritual war as well, we miss the big picture.

The numbers of wounded, missing and fallen soldiers and civilians is difficult to grasp, and it continues to grow every day. It is hard to understand why God allowed this to happen, but we need to remember it didn’t surprise Him as it did us a week ago. Even what Hazael was about to do to the people of Israel was known to God long before.

As we look at the history of Israel, we see how God worked through difficulties and crises. Let us pray that the nation of Israel will turn to God in repentance and call upon Him as our shield and protection. Let us pray that the nation of Israel will not boast in its military strength, but in God who longs to cover us with His wings – wings that are a shield and protection like an iron dome on the outside, yet warm and comforting like a mother hen’s wings. There is a reason for all that happened and though we do not know what it is, we know God does not forsake His people and He will take revenge on His enemies. Just as He punished Hazael and the nations who harmed Israel (Amos 1) for the atrocities they have committed, so He will punish Israel’s enemies. Psalm 83 expresses this desire for revenge, but the reason should not be missed (verses 16-18):

So that they will seek Your name, Lord.
May they be ashamed and dismayed forever,
And may they be humiliated and perish,
So that they will know that You alone, whose name is the Lord,
Are the Most High over all the earth.

These are difficult days. Though God’s enemies made a covenant against Him (Psalm 83:5), we can rest assured that He remains faithful to His covenants He made with us and He will carry us through to victory for His glory.